An Indian Son of Sri Lanka Motherland

Dr Rewant Vikram Singh, the former Director of Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre in Colombo, High Commission of India is a well-known personality in Sri Lanka. At present, he is serving as the Head of the Department of History, at Maharshi Dayanand College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Mumbai, India.
Dr Singh assumed duties as the Director of Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, Colombo in August 2019 and served till December 2022. During his tenure, he made valuable contributions to Sri Lanka and its people in numerous ways. Despite the challenges of Covid 19 pandemic, which adversely affected the major portion of his tenure in Colombo, he actively and steadily carried out his duties in a well-established elaborate manner.

Dr Rewant Vikram Singh established a wide range of social, cultural and religious networks on the island and carried out his duties in a systematic manner. Considering the impact of the economic crisis on the studies of Sri Lankan students, through his efforts, he arranged “fully free” higher studies for 10 Sri Lankan students. 
Dr. Singh also prepared Jataka Katha audiobooks in Sinhala for the visually impaired brothers and sisters of Sri Lanka. He also undertook several Gramayatras visiting 25 villages throughout Sri Lanka strengthening Indo-Sri Lanka bilateral relationship and promoting people-to-people contact between the two neighbouring countries.

Dr. Rewant Vikram Singh continues to serve his karmabhumi (the land of the Karma), Sri Lanka voluntarily. He has dedicated himself to the promotion of Buddhism, and Buddhist philosophy and always engages in social service activities, especially for the well-being of the people.
Recently he prepared and published The Mahavamsa in Braille with additional notes for his visually challenged brothers and sisters. The book would be useful for visually challenged scholars, professors, students, and enthusiasts all over the world.  To honour his outstanding contribution, the honourary title of ‘Sri Lanka Deshabhimani Janarangana’ was conferred on Dr Rewant Vikram Singh on 17 September 2023 by the Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka during the commemoration of the birth anniversary of Shrimath Anagarika Dharmapala.  The honourary title was presented through the hands of the Honourable Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Dinesh Gunawardena in a grand function which took place amidst the blessings of the Most Venerable Banagala Upatissa Thera, President of Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka, Chief Sangha Nayaka of Japan, Chief Priest of Lankaji Temple in Japan and Chief Priest of Sanchi Chethiyagiri Vihara, India. The ceremony was attended by the most venerable Mahasangha, diplomats, as well as international and national prominent leaders and devotees. On the same day, Dr Rewant Vikram Singh was also given the ‘International Award for Compassion and Promotion of Buddhism’ by the Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka and the Lankaji Temple of Japan. This award was also presented by His Excellency the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka with the blessings of the Most Venerable Mahasangha.It is worth mentioning that on 15th August 2023, the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement of Sri Lanka also conferred the “Savodaya International Cooperation Award” to Dr. Singh.